North Cobb saw three of its football players verbally commit this week to play on the collegiate ranks.

Free safety Martez Hester and cornerback Darius Conoway will continue working together in the secondary as both are set to play at Ball State. The Football Bowl Subdivision program from Muncie, Ind., plays out of the Mid-American Conference.

Offensive tackle William Chatmon will be a little closer to home as he committed to play at Tennessee Tech. The Football Championship Subdivision team from Cookeville, Tenn., also happens to be the alma mater of North Cobb coach Shane Queen.

Coming off a third-place showing in the 400-yard dash at the Class AAAAA state track meet last spring, Hester has been a major piece to the North Cobb football team’s success. When he missed the last four games of the 2010 football season due to a torn meniscus, the Warriors went winless the rest of the way after establishing a 5-1 record.

This year, he was key to North Cobb’s return to the postseason after a four-year wait.

Hester, who can also play wide receiver, ended up scoring the game-winning touchdown in the Warriors’ 21-17 win over Harrison — one that helped ensure North Cobb’s playoff spot — on a 45-yard interception return.

“(Hester) is a kid of great character and a leader by example because he pushed everyone to the next level,” Queen said. “He will be missed in our program dearly.”

North Cobb is going to miss Conoway as well. Queen described him as a physical cornerback who targets on top receivers from opposing teams. Conoway held highly touted Alpharetta receiver Carlos Burse to fewer than 20 yards on three catches in North Cobb’s season opener.

Conoway also had interceptions against Lassiter and Kennesaw Mountain, and he had a second-half fumble recovery against McEachern that led to a touchdown and a lead before North Cobb ultimately fell 31-28 to the Indians.

“He doesn’t mind coming up and hitting people, and it’s hard to find that in corners,” Queen said.

Chatmon is a 6-foot-4, 250-pound lineman with potential. Queen said he’s got the speed to keep up with skilled players, and he’s capable of adding 50 more pounds of muscle once he arrives at Tennessee Tech in the fall.